Bed or attachment therefor



Feb fg QQ Ma' C', NHXQN BED 0R ATTAcHMNT THEREFOR Filed dot. s. 3.923

Patented Feb. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES y 1,658,773 vlmreri'r OFFICE.

MOSES C. NIXON, F CHICAGO, ILLINOS BED 'OB .ATTACHMENT THEREFOR.

Application led October 3, 1923. Serial No. 366,254.

sists, preferably, in the construction herein-v after described.

ln the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a bed embodying the principles ot my invention, with lengthwise central portion broken out to reduce the width of the. drawing, and a part of the incasement broken away to bett-er show certain parts of the operating mechanism; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a bed With certainparts brokenv away to better s hoW certain parts of the operating mechanism; Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a pitman; Fig. 4e is a detail view of a portion of the operating mechanism on an enlarged scale; Fig. 5 is a section" taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4; lFig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the tubular forms, showing the plugs secured in the ends thereot and elongated openings through the sides, with the central portion broken out to reduce the length; Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of Fig. 6 on line 7-7.; Fig. 8 is n. .sectional vievv of one of the drums, longitudinally7 through its center; Fig. 9 is a sectional vieu' of Fig. 1 on line-9 3, showing means i'or securing the attaclunentto a bed with angle bars as side rails. and Fig. is a sectional view of a modified arrangement serving the same purpose as that shown in Fig. 9.

ln the drawings similar numerals of reterence indicate corresponding parts in the differentviews and, referring to the same, 1

and 2 denote the head and foot respectively and 3 the side lrails ot 'a bed. to which the' present invention may be built as a part, or

as a self-contained independent apparatus in which the :trame 4, preferably of angle bars, forms a supporting base, the longitudinally extending sides thereof being adapted substantially to overlie the side rails of a bedstead, or other suitable supporting structure.

vln the present case, sections of angle bars,

with' their horizontal. angle extending inwardly, are rigidly secured to the sides ot the base frame. in any suitable'manner, as by plates 6 and rivets 7, and form acentral or seat section 5; The ends of said plates extend past said sections, and to said ends body and thigh supporting members 8 and 9 respectively are pivotally secured, as` by rivets 10. To section l1 are rigidly secured plates 12, as by rivets 13, and the projecting end of said plates are pivotally secured to the thigh supporting member. as by rivets '14, thereby providing a pivotally attached leg supporting section, and a jointed frame to which the fabric (not shown) that supports the mattress may be attached thus forming a self-contained structure independent of a bedstead, but if built as a part thereof, the base frame would be eliminated and the central or seat section secured direct to the bed rails. f

To prevent the sides ofthe thigh member from being drawn toward each other by the Weight upon the fabric, a spreader v is provided, which is rigidly secured thereto in any suit-able manner, as by rivets 16.

Hanging brackets 17 and plates 18 (see Fig. 8) are rigidly secured to the base frame in any suitable manner, as by rivets 19 (all rivets or bolt heads in the bottom of the sides of the base frame should be countersunk to avoid interference when placed upon a supporting structure), said brackets having holes therein in which shafts 2() are pivotally supported, and mounted upon said shafts are drums 21, 21 and 21", and secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by pins To the body and thigh members, brackets 22 are rigidly secured, as by rivets 23, said brackets extend inivardlybeyond the inner-side of said members, then downwardly to form a suitable connect-ion with pitmen 24, which are pivotally secured thereto, as by rivets 25. These pitmen are preferably stampings, U shaped at their central portion, with the side next to' said brackets straight at their upper end and theother side brought over against it (see Fig.

3) to form a suitable connection with said brackets. Said pitmen are provided With cams 26 which extend in a straight line with the sides of the central portion' thereof, the object `of these cams will be hereinafter eX- plained. The vobject of plat-es 18 is to prevent the pitmen for Working oil the end of the drums.

31, said chain is passed partly around saidl d rum and its other end connected, in any suitable manner, with a plug 32 that projects from a tubular form 33. To drum 21 is secured a chain as by bolt '31', said chain being passed partly around said drum and its other end connected with another plug 32 that projects from a similar tubular form.

Said plu s, and plugs 34 in the opposite end of the tu ular forms, may be secured in any suitable manner, preferably by an electric s ot weld. The latter plugs are bored and t readed to correspond with mating threads on rods 35, which operate yin connection therewith. Said tubular forms (seeFigs. 6 and 7) are preferably made of two similar stampings, each forming one-half of a tube adapted to fit around said plugs, and the edges-33 of stampings,'extending from one plug to the other, are turned outwardly to form elongated openings 33, with vfiat surfaces at each ,side thereof, the object of which will hereinafter appear.

The unthreaded end of rods 35 may be supported in any suitable manner, as by being passed through holes 36 in the vertical angle of the base frame, immediately above the horizontal angle thereof, and held against longitudinal movement by rims 37 and gears 40 on said rods (see Figs. 4 and 5). These rods are operated by crank 38, the hub of which is `tubular and adapted to slide upon the projecting fend of the threaded rods, and s ottcd tomate with pins 39, that pass transversely through said rods, thereby florming an operating connection therewit v Mounted upon the threadedrodsare gears 40, which may be firmly secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by pins 41. Said gears are operatively connected with each other, or disconnected, vby an idler gear 42. This idler is rotatably mounted upon a pin 43 and retained thereon by a head 44,0n the end of said pin, the 'other end being reduced to provide a shoulder 45, said end being placed within a hole in the downwardly extending angleof bracket 46 and upset to secure it therein (see Figs. 4 and 5). Said bracket is preferably a stamping, and in its horizontal portion is a depression or well 47 in which is placed an expansion spring 48. This bracket and idler gear is supported by a pin 49, one end of which is reduced' to form a shoulder, is passed through a' hole 49 in the base frame and upset to se- `erably -a stamping, U shaped so that when in position it will extend upwardly on both sides of the supporting pin. To prevent displacement of the bracket and idler ear,

a guide pin 52 is provided, one end of w ich is reduced to furnish a shoulder and this end ,is passed through a hole 52 in the base frame and upset to secure it therein, and through the lower end of this pin is a transverse pin 53 to furnish a rest for the bracket when in its lowermost position.

To prevent the bedding from Contactin with the gears and threaded rods and catc surplus lubricant from the latter, an incasement 54 is provided, which is secured to the base frame, as by bolts 55. The upper part of the incasemcnt extends against the vertical angle at the end of the base frame, and of suiiicient hei ht to clear the gears but not to interfere wit the free movement of the leg section when it slides upon the base frame, or supporting sections 56, which are secured to each side of the base frame, as by rivets 56', with their horizontal angle extending inwardly, thereby forming a flat" base for the end of the leg section to ride upon and prevent displacement of the same. The under portion of the incasement stops short of the idler gear, as indicated by dotlted line 57. The other end of the incasement extends beyond the threaded rods, and supported -in a hole 58 in the side thereof is a rod 59that passes through an opening 59 in the opposite side oftheincasement, and is tapped .into the side of thc base frame with a lock-nut 60 thereon. This rod passes through elongated openings in the sides of the tubular forms and prevents the latter from being rotated by the action of the threaded rods. A

It is frequently the case, that the connections between the side rails and the head and foot of beds are higher than the rails and to avoid the same or other interferin parts, plates 61, 62 and 62 of sufficient t ickness to compensate for this unevenness are preferably secured `to the bottom of the base frame in any'suitable manner, as by rivets '63. The plates 61 (see Fig. 9) extend inllU , the projecting end of either of the threaded Lemaire inner-side of the vertical angle of the bed rails and clamped, as by bolts 67, thus securing the attachment centrally and firmly upon the bed rails.

Fig. 10 is a modification of Fig. 9, and is intended to secure the attachment to beds having tubular side rails. In-this modiication, plates 61 are similar and secured in the same manner as in Fig. 9, but 'supports 68 rest upon and llit the tubular or other forms of rails, and clamps 69 are intended to fit against the lower side thereof, both being provided with elongated holes 66' for adjustment to conform to the width of the beds, and are clamped to said raiis, as by bolts G7.

lt is understood, ot course, that the number ot said plates, supports and clamps may be increased, their forms changed, and that they may be differently placed and secured to meet the variations in'spaeing, forms and positions ot the bed rails, the intention being to provide for a standardized frame that maybe adapted to the variations in the bed rails by merely changing the supports and astenin-gs.

In operation, the crank may be applied to rods, and clockwise rotation of said rods will cause the tubular form and chain with which it is connected to be drawn toward it, thereby rotating their respective drums and the one on the opposite end ot its shaft, and through the chains connecting them with their respective pitmen4 impart an endwise i movement of the latter, thereby raising the pivoted member with which they are connected. And to lower said membersV the operation is reversed, thus adjusting the p0-` sition of the body and thigh members independently of each other.

To adjust said members simultaneously the gears 40, which are firmly secured to the threaded rods, are operatively connected by raising the idler gear to position shown in the drawings, which is done by depressing lever v50 and through the action of the cam raise the bracket andV idler gear to uppermost position, thereby forming an operating connection between the threaded rods, and through them and their connections, previously described, simultaneously adjust the position of the pivoted members. When the idler gear is raised, if its teeth fail to match.

with those of the other gears, it may be remedied by shifting their position.

T o disconnect the operating gears, the cam may be released by raising the lever 50', and it the bracket and idler gear fail to drop down upon the released cam and supporting pin 53, the spring 48 should readily depress them thereby forcing a disconnection, when the position of the pivoted members may again be adjusted independently. It is manifest thatl various other means may be emas ployed to operatively connect or disconnect the operating mechanisms, and it is not the intention to limit the invention to the arrangementV shown.

When the pivoted supporting members are lowered to a fiat or normal position, the camsV carried by the pitmen contact with their respective drums and raise the lower vor free f end of said pitmen to positionsl shown lin dotted outline in Fig. 2. But it is apparent that other means may be employed to raise and support the tree end of said pit-men, or they vmay be lifted andv 1. ln a structure of the class described,

the combination v,of a horizontally extending lframe including a central section, body and thigh supporting members with one end pivotally secured at the respective ends of the central section, operating mechanism for said members including rotatable rods,

Vmeans for rotating said rods independently,

a gear carried by each of said rods, an idler gear, and means for moving said idler gear into mesh with the gears on said rods whereby the latter may be connected so that when either is rotated, the other will also be rotated whereby the free ends of the body and thigh supporting members may be raised or lowered simultaneously.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a horizontally extending trame including a central section, body and' thigh supporting members with one end pivotally secured at the respective ends ot the central section, operating mechanism l'or said members including rotatable rods', means for rotating said rods independently, a gear carried by each of said reds, a bracket movably carried by said, frame, an X,idler gear mounted on said bracket, and means for moving said bracket to bring said idler gear into mesh with the gears carried by said respective rods, whereby said rods may be connected so that when either is rotated, the other will also be rotated.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a horizontally extending frame including a central section, body and thigh supporting members with one end pivotally secured at the respective ends ot the central section, operating mechanism tor said members including rotatable rods, means for rotating said rods independently, a gear carried by each of said rods, a bracket carried by said frame,- an idler gear mounted on said bracket, and cam means for moving lll) said bracket relativelyI to said y frame to bring said idler gear into mesh with the gears carried by said rods whereby said rods may be connected so that when either is rotated the other will-also be rotated.

4. In combination, a frame independent of and adapted to be supported by a bed or similar structure, said frame having afixed central section secured thereto, supporting members with one end of each pivotally secured at the respective ends of the central section, another section with one end pivotally secured to the free end ot one ot said members, and means' operated from a single end of the supporting structure for raising or lowering the free ends of said members simultaneously or each independently.

5. In combination, a frame independent of and adapted to be su )ported by a bed or similar structure, said rame having a central section secured thereto, supporting kmembers with one end of each pivotally secured at the respective ends ot' the central section, another section with one end pivotally secured to the free end of one of said members, means carried by tsaid frame for raising or lowering simultaneously the :tree ends of said members or each independently, and operating means therefor operated by a single mechanism.

6. In combination, a frame independent `Tvof and adapted to be supported by a bed or similar structure, said frame having acentral section secured thereto, supporting members each having an end pivotally secured at the respective end of the central section, a pitman pivoted at one end to each of said members, means carried by the frame for moving said pitmen whereby the free ends of said members may be raised or lowered simultaneously or each independently, and a common operating member therefor.

7. In combination, a frame independent of and adapted to be supported by a bed or other similar structure, said frame havv ing a central section secured thereto, supporting members with one end of each piv-4 otally secured at the respective end of the central section, drums rotatably supported by said frame, rotatable means having flexible connection with said drums for rotating the latter, and means operated by said drums for raising or lowering the free ends ot' the supporting members.

8. In a structure of the class described,

the 4combination of a -frame having a central section secured thereto, supporting members each having an end pivotally secured at the respective ends of the central section, drums rotatably s'up orted by said frame, longitudinally mova le elements, flexible means adapted to wind upon the drums and 'connected with said elements, means for' incvin said elements backward and forward where y the drums may be rotated, and

means operated by said drums for raising y or lowering the free ends of vsaid members. 9. In a structure ofthe class described,

the combination of a frame having a cenelements, rotatable threaded rods operatively' connected with said elements whereby the drums may be rotated, and 'means operatively connecting the drums with said members whereby the' free ends of the latter may be raised or lowered.

10. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a frame having a central section secured thereto, body and thigh supporting members with one end of each pivotally secured at the respective ends ot the central section, drums rotatably supported by said frame, operative connections between the drums and said members, longitudinally movable tubular elements, flexible means adapted to wind upon therespective drums and connected with the tubular elements, rotatable threaded rods operatively connected with said tubular elements and adapted to impart a reciprocating movement to'the latter, and means adapted to operatively connect or disconnect said threaded rods, whereby the free end of said members may be raised or lowered simultaneously or each independently.

11. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a frame including a central section, body and thiffh supporting members with one end of eaeli pivotally secured at the respective ends of the central section, drums rotatably supported by said frame, operative connections between the drums and said members, longitudinally movable tubular elements, means adapted to prevent rotation of said elements, flexible means adapted to wind upon the respective drums and connected with the tubular elements, rotatable threaded rods operatively connected with said elements and adapted to impart a reciprocatin movement to the latter, and means adapte to be moved to operatively connect or disconnect the threaded rods, whereby the free ends of said members may be raised or lowered simultaneously or each independently.A

12. In a .structure of thev class described, the combination of a frame having a central section secured thereto, body and thigh supporting members with one end of'each piv-A otally secured at the respective ends of the central section, drums rotatably supported by said frame, longitudinally movable elements, flexible means adapted to wind upcentral section,

` till said elements, rotatable threaded rods operatively connected with said elements and ada ted t'o impart a reciprocating movement to the latter, means for operating said rods -simultaneously or independently, apitman pivotally connectedat one end to each of said members7 and means connecting the pitmen and said drains whereby the rotation of the latter will raise or lower the free ends of said members.

13. In a vstruct-ure of the class described, the combination of a frame having a central section secured thereto, body and thigh supporting members with one end of each pivotally secured at the respective ends of the central section, and operating mechanism for said members including parallel rotatable elements, means for rotating said elements independently, and means for connecting said elements so that the vrotation of -either will rotate the other whereby the free ends of the supporting members may be raised or lowered simultaneously or each independently.v

1i. In a structure ot the class described, the combination of a frame having a. central section secured thereto, body and thigh supporting members With one end of each pivotally secured at the respective ends of the central section, another section with one end pivotally secured to the free end of one of said members, independent mechanisms substantially parallel with each other and operable from the end ci said frame for operating` said members independentlyY and means adapted to form an operating connection between said mechanisms whereby the operation of either Will operate the other to thereby raise or lower the free ends of thepivoted members simultaneously.

i5. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a trame having a central section secured thereto, body and thigh supporting members with one end ot each pivotally secured at the respective ends of the drums rotatably supported by said trame, longitudinally movable elements, .flexible means connecting said elements to their respective drums andadapted to Wind thereon, means for moving said elements backward and forward whereby said drums may-be rotated, a pitman pivotally connected at one end to each of said members, and means connecting the other ends of the pitmen to their respective drums whereby the rotation of the drums will move the pitmen and thereby said members.

16. In a structure of the class described, the. combination ot a Jframe including a centrai section, body and thigh supporting members with one endot each pivotally secured at the respective ends of the central section, drums rotatably supported by said frame, longitudinally movable elements, flexible means connecting said elements to their respective drums and wound thereon, rotatable threaded rods connected to said elements for reciprocating the same, means for operating said rods simultaneously or independently, a pitman connected at one end to each of the members, and means connecting the .other endsl of the pitmen to their respective drums, whereby the rotation of the drums will move the pitmen and thereby said members.

17. In combination, a frame independent ofand adapted to be supported by a bed or similar structure, said frame having a central section secured thereto, body and thigh Vsupporting members With one endvof each pivotally connected at the respective ends of the central section, pitmen pivoted at one end to said members, means carried by said frame for operating said pitmen wherebyV the free ends ot said members may be raised orlowered, said pitmen normally lying substantially in the plane of said frame when said members are in normal position, and rigid means for returning said pitmen to their initial position as said members are lowered.

18. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a frame including a cen tral section,l body and thigh supporting members With one end of each pivotally secured at the respective ends of the central section, drums rotatably supported by the frame, means for rotating 4said drums, a pitman pivotally connected at one end toeach of said members, means connecting the other ends ot the pitmen tou their respective drums whereby the rotation of the drums will move the pitmen, said pitmen normally lying substantially in the pla-ne of the frame when said members are in normal position, and cams provided on said pitmen for returning them to their initial position as said members are lowered.

19. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a trame including a centra-l section, body and thigh supporting members each having one end pivotally secured at the respective ends of the central section, a pitman pivotally secured to each of said members, means for operating said pitmen whereby the free ends of said members may be raised or lowered, and positive operating means carried by the pitmen for engaging a part of the structure for supporting the free ends of said pitmen in an elevated position when the members are in normal position.

20. In combination, a frame independent of and adapted to be supported by a bed or similar structure, said frame having a central section secured thereto, supporting members with one end of each pivotally secured at the respective ends of the central section, another section with one end pivotally attached to the free end ot one ot said members, reciprocable means connected with said members, and rotatable means carried at the respective ends of the central section,

another section with one end pivotally attached to the free end of one of said members, members secured to said'frame at its respective sides and adapted to form a relativelyv wide buse on which the free end of the attached section may ride as its attached end is, raised or lowered, and means carried by said frame for raising or lowering the free ends of said members.

22. In combination, a frame independent o'f and adapted to be supported by a bedstead or similar structure, said frame having a central section secured thereto, supporting members with one end of each pivotally secured at the respective ends of the central section, and means carried by said frame and operable from the end thereof and adapted to raise or lower the free end of said members either simultaneously or each independently. v

23. In combination, a frame independenty of and adapted to be supported bya bedstead or similar structure, saidF frame having a central section secured thereto, supporting .members with one end of each pivotally secured at the respective ends of the central section, means carried by said frame comprising tubular members with rods extending therein with threaded engagement therewith, and means adapted to drive said means whereby the free ends of said supporting members may be raised or lowered simultaneously or each independently.

24. In combination, a frame independent t and adapted to be supported by a bedstead or similar structure, said frame having a central section secured thereto, supporting members with one end of each pivotally secured to the respect-ive ends of the central section, another section with one'end pivotally attached to the free end of one of said supporting members, members secured to said frame at its respective sides and adapted to form a relatively wide base on which thea-free end of the attached section may'ride 'as its attached end israised or lowered.

, 25. In combination, av substantially rectangular frame independent of and adapted to be supportedv by a bedstead o r vvsimilar structure, said frame being substantially the length of the bed rails and having 'a scat section secured thereto, a supporting member with one end pivotally secured to the seat :A

from the bedstead, said combination being thereby so arranged as to avoid interference with a bedstead when placed thereon.

26.In combination, a substantially rec-4 tangular frame independent of and adapted to be supported by a bedstead or similar structure, said frame being'substantially the length of the bed rails and having a seat section secured thereto, a supporting,r member with one end pivotally secured to the seat section, means carried by the independent frame comprising a tubular member with .a member extending therein with threaded connection therewith, said means being operable through the end ot' said frame and wholly inde endent of'the bedstead and extends longitudinally therewith and is operatively connected with the supporting member whereby the free'end of the latter may be raised or lowered to different positions.

27. In combinationran angle iron frame independent of and adapted to be supported by a bedstead or similar structure', said frame having a central section secured thereto, a supporting member with one end pivotally secured to said central section, another section with one end pivotally attached to the free end of the pivotally supported member, the respective sides of said frame having at their tops relatively wide bases formed thereon on whichl the free end of end is raised or lowered.

' Moses o. Nixon. 

